Stigmatise HIV Patients And Go To Jail – Osun Govt Warns Residents

The Osun State government has warned residents stigmatising people living with Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) to desist or risk jail terms.

The government noted that there have been increasing reports of stigmatisation of people living with HIV in the state, most especially women and children.

It said stigmatisation of people living with HIV has now become an offence by the provisions of the Osun State HIV Anti-Discrimination Law, 2021.

The Executive Secretary, Osun State Agency for the Control of Aids (O’SACA), Dr Adeniyi Oginni who made this known in a statement, a copy obtained by OSUN Defender on Saturday, noted that any person or institution found guilty of stigmatising or discriminating against people living with HIV will face the penalty.

The statement read, “In recent times, there have been increasing reports of stigmatisation of people living with HIV in our state, most especially women and children. This has led to loss of job, disruption of family and extreme emotional trauma in the survivors thereby posing serious threats to public health.

“Consequently, it has become imperative to inform the general public that stigmatisation of people living with HIV is an offence by the provisions of the Osun State HIV Anti-Discrimination Law, 2021.

“Any person or institution found guilty of stigmatising or discriminating against people living with HIV either by denying them job or means of livelihood, or disclosing their status to other persons without their consent is liable to penalties which range from payment of fines to imprisonment without option of fine or both.

“The general public is hereby warned against violation of this law as the Gender and Human Rights Response Team in the state will see to the prosecution of offenders in order to safeguard the health of every resident of the state. To be fore-warned is to be fore-armed.”